By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
City employees attended mandatory training on the state Freedom of Information Act at City Hall on Aug. 22.
Mayor Dorinda Borer required all West Haven employees, including public safety officials, to attend the training session in the Harriet C. North Community Room as part her administration’s “commitment to fostering governmental transparency.”
The training focused on the FOI Act, enacted by the General Assembly in 1975, and was led by Russell Blair, the director of education and communications for the state Freedom of Information Commission.
The FOI Act is “a series of laws that guarantee the public access to public records and public meetings of governmental bodies in Connecticut,” according to the commission’s website.
Blair said the commission settles disputes that arise when residents believe agencies are not following the law.
Borer greeted employees at the nearly 90-minute session, which included a Q&A, and called the training “significantly important” for the city’s workforce.
“Residents are entitled to transparency from their government,” the mayor said.
Employees of City Hall and satellite offices attended the training, with the next phase slated for elected officials and board and commission members, Borer said.
Blair discussed FOI Act basics, which he defined as “anything dealing with city business,” as well as fulfilling an FOIA request.
The FOI Act grants public access to meetings and records of public agencies, but he noted that “public agencies cannot be required to conduct research or produce documents that don’t exist.”
The city corporation counsel’s office handles all FOIA requests from the public.
Corporation Counsel Paul J. Dorsi said the public should direct FOIA requests to paralegal John Sykes at sykes@westhaven-ct.gov.